9 Tips to Develop Child’s Kinesthetic Intelligence

"Please help! My son cannot stand still. He always runs around, climbs the tables, and shouts. He cannot just sit and watch TV. 5 minutes after that, he will not feel comfortable and look for other things that can be done ". Do you often hear complaints like this? Or even is it we ourselves who often complain like that?

Do you know that every child has a unique way of absorbing information? We may feel confused with the little one who is more likely to move actively and have less concentration in terms of school lessons. Well, it doesn’t mean that the little one doesn’t really listen to the subject matter. It could be that our child is a child whose development refers to kinesthetic intelligence. Kinesthetic intelligence is characterized by the control of gestures and the ability to manage objects. The Little one who has the kinesthetic intelligence love to express in gestures, move a lot (athletics), have strong body, and have a skill in fine motoric skill, hand and eye coordination, and endurance.

Children with kinesthetic intelligence will easily get bored with the traditional learning method which is only sitting down and listening to the teacher. Children with kinesthetic intelligence love to interact with the real object, do the experiments and do repetitive physical activities.

If your child includes those who have this kinesthetic intelligence, do not force him/her to sit and memorize something. Or sit quietly writing for hours because it will actually turn off his/her creativity. Instead, we can develop his/her kinesthetic intelligence at home so that it can maximize his/her learning process with the following 9 learning styles:

1. Play a role and engage in playing with him/her. We can play as sellers of buyers, or doctors and patients. Once we invite him/her to play as a teacher and students or parents and children, and do not forget to ask how he/she feels in playing the role.

2. Train the balance. Dancing is one of the examples. By doing dancing, we also train the balance and the alignment of the motion, train the muscle strength and train the flexibility of his/her body.

3. Engage with nature. Instead of looking at the picture, take him/her to the garden of the house and let him/her touch and see first the type of plant we want to introduce.

4. Let's make a drama class with him/her! He/she is less interested if he/she has to sit and listen to fairy tales, but it will be different when you play it in motion with him/her.

5. Support his/her hobby. Involve him/her in the competition as well as the performing arts that will also sharpen his/her confidence

6. Encourage your child in activities that improve or make things. He/she will learn to solve problems by learning the way he/she likes.

7. Involve him/her in extracurricular activities. Distribute the kinesthetic intelligence of your child by choosing activities that rely on many physical activities such as karate, dancing, futsal, basketball, and so forth. This activity can help children socialize with peers.

8. Recommend the concept of form with motion. He/she will be easier to recognize the letters by using the movement, as well as the concept of a short length practiced with the arm.

9. Provide a varied learning space. Allow your child to choose his/her place and learning style like sitting on the carpet, sitting at the study table, or studying on the terrace. Emphasize that learning is fun and can be done anywhere